2009 · 15 years old at test · Diesel mostly

2009 BMW X5 MOT pass rate and common faults

3,715 MOT tests in 2024. 73.6% passed first time, compared with 58.4% for all cars the same age.

126Well above average
Passed first time73.6%
Failed or needed repairs26.4%
Typical mileage at test127,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 3,715 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Coil spring: fractured or broken3.1%
  2. Tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed2.8%
    159 marked dangerous
  3. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn2.6%
  4. Rear fog lamp: not working2.6%
  5. Position lamp: not working2.4%
  6. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm1.6%
    96 marked dangerous
  7. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.5%
  8. Linkage ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt1.4%
  9. Washers: not working1.3%
  10. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.1%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics17.6%
  2. Suspension12.0%
  3. Brakes6.9%
  4. Tyres6.6%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)4.7%
  6. Emissions & leaks2.4%
  7. Wheels1.9%
  8. Body & chassis1.5%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm21.3%
  2. Engine oil leaks: leaking excessively from engine14.9%
  3. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn8.3%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn7.0%
  5. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.7%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: coil spring: fractured or broken. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2009 BMW X5?

In 2024, 73.6% of 2009 BMW X5 cars passed their MOT first time, across 3,715 tests. The average for all 15-year-old cars was 58.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2009 BMW X5?

The most common failure reasons were coil spring: fractured or broken; tyres - condition: has ply or cords exposed; suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2009 BMW X5 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 126, which is well above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).